Sports Betting in Age of COVID-19: Optimistic Sportsbook Officials Post Betting Numbers on College Football
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
While Las Vegas, the nation and the rest of the world reel from the coronavirus pandemic, sportsbook officials at MGM Resorts International have posted point spreads and money lines on 163 college football games for what traditionally would be the start of college football season.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the wagering propositions include Navy vs. Notre Dame -16.5 on Aug. 29 in Dublin, Ireland, and Hawaii at Arizona -10.5 on the same day.
A return to normalcy?
Bettors envisioning a return to normalcy in a few months can circle Alabama -14 vs. Southern California on Sept. 5 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The traditional Red River Showdown on Oct. 10 with Texas vs. Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas has the Sooners at -2.5. Baylor is -2½ at Texas Tech on Oct. 15.
OK, call us skeptical, but we’re, well, skeptical.
Oh, it could happen. Widespread testing could somehow be unveiled that would isolate those who test positive or a miracle vaccine could be found. Neither is likely at this point. Even as talk of reopening state economies is bandied about, most health officials consider a vaccine at least a year away.
So ask yourself: What are the chances that Arizona Stadium (capacity 50,782) in Tucson will be filled a little more than four months from now for that game with the Rainbow Warriors? Do you really foresee 22 players playing a close-contact sport with the smack of hard-plastic helmets while smiling cheerleaders form a pyramid?
How many people will be willing to cram into a seat perhaps a foot away from a total stranger, who may or may not be wearing a protective mask? Or will we social distance at 6 feet and “sell out” with 15,000 or 20,000 fans in attendance?
The Journal noted the September sports calendar is loaded with college and professional football, the Kentucky Derby, the Tour de France, two rescheduled marathons, golf tournaments and tennis Grand Slams. That’s right, mint juleps and the Kentucky Derby in September.
And here’s the issue: As the Journal story noted, those sports events are slated to coincide with a much bigger problem — the second wave of coronavirus.
Rules of the game
Jeff Stoneback, sportsbook director at The Mirage, told the Review-Journal that games must be played at the same site and within a week of the scheduled date for the bets to stand.
50-50 might be overly optimistic.
Plans for opening restarting major conferences, concerts and sporting events might be months away if not longer.
Said Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak on April 16 at one of his virtual news conferences: “As soon as we finalize our state-specific plan to reopen, I will be right here, telling you exactly how we are going to do it.”
In other words, we’re not there yet.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti even suggested that L.A. may hold off on allowing major gatherings until 2021 because of the coronavirus threat, the Los Angeles Times reported on April 15.
In its story on the college football lines, the Review-Journal included a 2017 photo of Alabama coach Nick Saban shaking hands with LSU coach Ed Ogeron.
College football coaches shaking hands in a little more than four months?
We’ll bet against that.
For diehard fans and optimists, however, there’s always hope.
Navy vs. Army is on the calendar for Dec. 12 at Lincoln Financial Field (capacity 69,176) in Philadelphia. The Midshipmen are -6.5.
